JICA Vice President Hiroshi Kato asserted that Japan maintained its “consistent” characteristics of its bilateral aid, with its emphasis on socioeconomic infrastructure and human resource developments aimed at poverty reduction, despite of repeated changes in the ODA Charter in 1992, 2003 and 2015.
At a panel discussion held in Oslo on transitional justice experience of Timor-Leste, former SRSG Hasegawa acknowledged successful peacebuilding of Timor-Leste and then pointed out the need for national leaders and people to change yet again their mind-set and mentality for nation building as its requirement differs from peacebuilding.
Former Minister and Prosecutor General of Timor-Leste Ana Pessoa Pinto asserted criminal prosecution should not be the sole focus of transitional justice. Justice has to promote, not disrupt unity. Please click here for her full statement and panel discussants’ views.
In cooperation with Bishop Gunnar Johan Stålsett and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Norwegian Peacebuilding Resource Centre (NOEF) held the European launch of the English version of the Chega! Report of the Timor-Leste Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation. Please click here for a summary record of the Oslao launch meeting.
UN Under-Secretary-General Atul Khare spoke at the Press Center and an international peace cooperation symposium organized by the Cabinet Office and expressed his appreciation of Japan`s support to UN peacekeeping and special political mission, which together with AU mission number as many as thirty five. Click here for full text of his speech.
Professor Hasegawa explained to the HPC program associates the purpose of UN peacebuilding and how UN integrated missions work on the ground to build sustainable peace and development.
Twenty seven UN staff and professionals from Japan and five other countries engaged in peace, humanitarian and development assistance enhanced their communication and leadership competencies in multidisciplinary peace operations.
On 9 January, the first meeting of the Earth Charter Committee of Japan was held under the chairmanship of Former Environment Minister Madame Wakako Hironaka. The Committee received a briefing about the outcome of COP21 held in Paris in 2015 by Ms. Masako Konishi, Conservation Officer, Climate Change Programme, World, WWF Japan. The annual board meeting was followed by an informal dinner.
JCK Youth Forum students met with Professor Hasegawa and Ms. Kumi Kim of the UN Association of Japan and discussed the program and logistical arrangements for the Fukuoka Youth Forum to be held in September 2016.
At the invitation of Professor Yasushi Katsuma, Dean, International Studies Program, Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies (GSAPS) and Professor Mariko Shoji of Keiai University, Professor Hasegawa identified policy aspirations and realities on the ground in UN peace operations. Please click here for a summary of his lecture.
Organized by Ms. Bomi Kwon, a group of JCK forum meetings held a dinner party at a Korean restaurant Sonamu (소나무) in Ebisu, Tokyo. Joined by Professor Hasegawa, former and current students came and enjoyed their get-together.
2015 JCK leaders including Hiroto Kiyozumi, Bomi Kwon, Eriko Kawashima, Kiyomi Ikenoue, Ayaka Mae and 2016 JCK leaders, Akihide Toda, Kana Horibe, Hirotaka Koike, Hideaki Tonoike, were joined by Misato Nagakawa and Ataka Goto, former JCK leaders. They discussed with Professor Hasegawa how to plan and implement the JCK Youth Forum in Fukuoka in June 2016.
The “denuclearization of DPRK first” approach has brought nothing but stagnation of negotiation for long time.
On 19 October 2015, Dr. Alistair Edgar, Executive Director of the Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS) spoke at the University of Tokyo if the UN was still Fit for Peace and Security Governance.
In his speech at the Australian National University, Minister Agio Pereira explained the significance of colonial legacy that led to the birth of independent sovereign state of Timor-Leste. Click here for a full text of his speech.
Dr. Kazuo Takahashi, Former Professor, International Christian University, Tokyo, points out the emergence of a twin structure of development cooperation, i.e. the traditional Bretton Woods-DAC regime and a new system consisting of the AIIB, the New Development Bank and the Chinese bilateral cooperation system.
Uchida endorses Kofi Annan and The Elders’ proposal to include a new category of semi-permanent membership in the Security Council representing a modified Model B proposed by the 2004 High-Level Panel on New Threats, Challenges and Change. Please click here for the full text of Uchida’s paper.
At a book launching event, hosted by UN University Library on 23 October 2015, Dr. Daisaku Higashi, Associate Professor in the University of Tokyo, presented his analysis of the challenges faced in establishing legitimate governments in post-conflict states and examined the cases of Afghanistan, Iraq, Sierra Leone, and East Timor.
At the trilateral conference in Shanghai, Professor Hasegawa called for Chinese and Korean leaders to be magnanimous and forgive Japan as much as the Japanese leaders have admitted and apologized for what Japan did to China and Korea before and during World War II in order to achieve reconciliation.
LIU Zhixian, Vice President and Director-General of UNA-China and Secretary General of CANUNS pointed out the international community expected more from the East Asian Community to provide East Asian perspectives and approaches to regional and global problems.